Tony Adame looks at Saturday’s small-college, junior-college football games (Sept. 26)
MIAA
No. 15 Pittsburg State (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (3-0, 3-0), 7 p.m. — Without a doubt, the biggest regular-season game for Fort Hays State in the last decade. A win over the Gorillas would propel Fort Hays State into the Top 25, represent the Tigers’ first 4-0 start since moving to NCAA Division II in 1991, first 4-0 start since 1983 and back-to-back wins over Pittsburg State for the first time since 1975-76. Fort Hays State quarterback Treveon Albert seems to have solved his junior year struggles and seems to be in a groove, with his offense split evenly between passing (100.3 yards) and rushing (98.7), with four touchdown passes and one interception.
Other games
Missouri Southern (1-2, 1-2) at Washburn (2-1, 2-1), 2 p.m.
Lindenwood (1-2, 1-2) at Missouri Western (2-1, 2-1), 2 p.m.
Northeastern State (0-3, 0-3) at Emporia State (3-0, 3-0), 2 p.m.
Central Oklahoma (0-3, 0-3) at No. 3 Northwest Missouri (3-0, 3-0), 2:30 p.m.
Central Missouri (1-2, 1-2) at Neb.-Kearney (0-3, 0-3), 3 p.m.
Jayhawk
Dodge City (3-1, 2-0 Jayhawk) at No. 8 Hutchinson (3-1, 1-1), 7 p.m. — Dodge City spent the last two weeks ranked in the Top 25 before losing a thriller to Iowa Western, and present a huge challenge for Hutchinson. Hutchinson quarterback Dominick McKinzy was sharp last week in a 40-8 rout of Iowa Central, throwing for 231 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and seems to have gained the upper hand over Kylen Binn in Hutchinson’s two-quarterback system.
Other games
No. 3 Coffeyville (4-0) at Iowa Central (1-2), noon
Air Force Prep (1-2) at No. 4 Butler (4-0), 7 p.m.
Garden City (1-3, 1-1) at Independence (0-4, 0-3), 7 p.m.
Highland (1-2, 0-1) at Fort Scott (1-3, 0-3), 7 p.m.
KCAC
Friends (0-3, 0-1 KCAC) at Sterling (0-2, 0-1), 6 p.m. — Friends is off to its first 0-3 start since 2011, thanks to having to forfeit a win over Saint Mary, and trying to avoid its first 0-4 start since 1999. The Falcons’ struggles have been indicative of what the whole league has been going through – the KCAC’s overall record is 8-17 headed into the fourth week of the season, and five of its 10 teams are winless. For Friends, the biggest problem has been on offense, where the Falcons have struggled to come up with yards and points and are eighth in the league in total offense at 236.3 yards.
Other games
Ottawa (0-2, 0-1) at Bethany (0-3, 0-1), 6 p.m.
No. 24 Kansas Wesleyan (3-0, 1-0) at Southwestern (1-2, 1-0), 6 p.m.
Bethel (1-1, 1-0) at McPherson (0-2, 0-1), 7 p.m.
Saint Mary (1-2, 1-0) at No. 20 Tabor (2-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.
This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 1:28 PM with the headline "Tony Adame looks at Saturday’s small-college, junior-college football games (Sept. 26)."